Many of the trails along the Laurentian escarpment have been utilized by a newer form of wintertime cycling.
“Fat biking” has become a popular activity in the area as most other outdoor recreation has been prohibited. It involves riding a bicycle with thicker tires meant to navigate through snowy conditions.
Mike Ward, a regular fat biker and president of the North Bay Mountain Bike Association, says he and his peers have noticed an uptick in winter bikers.
“It’s absolutely exploded and it’s great to see,” he said. “We notice a huge number of people who are getting into it because it’s accessible. People can do it outside with distance from other people.”
Ward says a fat bike is up to $1,000 cheaper than a traditional summer mountain bike, but getting one for this winter may have been difficult.
“The bike shops can’t keep up with sales. In early November, you couldn’t get a fat bike,” he noted.
The enjoyment in the activity, Ward says, comes in its ease.
“The sport is great for people getting into mountain biking because the trails are smooth. There are no rocks and roots. If you fall off, you fall into deep snow,” he explained. “It makes it accessible for everyone, even people who are new to mountain biking.”
With walking or riding on outdoor trails being one of the few activities allowed by the health unit, Ward says fat biking has been “crucial” for his mental health.
“I’m hoping that this huge influx of people who are into outdoor recreation are going to discover that it’s maybe more fun to explore in the woods than it is to work out indoors at the gym, even after restrictions are lifted,” Ward said. “I’m hoping this trend continues.”
As for the North Bay Mountain Bike Association, which has over 200 members, Ward says the interest in winter cycling bodes well for them.
“I think with the fat biking, it’s really going to up our membership, especially because there are a lot of people who got into fat biking because they don’t summer mountain bike,” he said.
Winter cycling is not the only activity on the rise this winter. Troy Storms, manager of lands and stewardship at the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority says there has been an increase in the use of trails in conservation areas.
“I’m not surprised. This lockdown has been keeping people cooped up inside and people need to get outside,” Storms noted. “I think people are getting out and visiting more.”
